Hair waving heater



April 1.937- E. o. FREDERICS 2,078,758

HAIR WAVING HEATER Filed July 13, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Jim-7227M fl ATTORNEY Apr i127, 1937.

E. O. FREDERICS HAIR WAVING HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 15, 1954 FIGA,

INVMTOR. Ma? M BY M ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for use in permanent-waving human hair, and more particularly to that part of such devices known as the heater, of which a number, usually varying from twelve to forty or more, are customarily supplied and used in conjunction with a single machine. An object of this invention is to provide an improved heater device of light weight and of simple and inexpensive construction, yet capable of performing its function in a manner superior to heaters of the type heretofore used. Another object is the provision of a heater adapted to exert a proper and uniform pressure upon the coil of hair to be waved, regardless of the thickness, within certain limits, of the coil with its associated pad. The invention is especially directed to a heater of the so-called spiral type.

Other and further objects and advantages will appear from the description which follows, together with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the heater as it appears when in use; Fig. 2is a perspective view with certain portions broken away to illustrate the interior construction of the heater; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical section of an alternative construction, in closed position; Fig. 5 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of the same construction in open position; and Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line 66 of Fig. 4.

In the process of permanent-waving human hair, a tress of hair 6 (Fig. 1) is wound upon a rod or curler I, a pad 8 of material impregnated with the waving compound is wound about the hair and fastened in place, and the coil thus formed is inserted in a heater 9, which is adapted to be heated electrically. As many such coils are formed as may be necessary to wave all of the subjects hair simultaneously, each coil, of course, being placed in a separate heater. The electric current is then introduced into the several heaters, and permitted to flow for a length of time necessary to complete this step of the process, according to the judgment of the operator, after which the coils of hair are removed from the heaters and the succeeding steps of the process are taken. Since the present invention relates only to the heater, a further description of the process is unnecessary.

Heaters heretofore used in spiral waving processes have been of a tubular form, of fixed and uniform internal diameter, with the result that it was necessary for the operator to exercise great care in determining the amount of hair to be wound in each coil. In using this type of heater, if too little hair is wound upon the curler, the resultant coil will fit loosely within the heater and the conduction of heat will be poor, With correspondingly poor results. If, on the 5 other hand, too much hair is wound into a single coil, it will be difficult to insert into the heater, and will fit very tightly therein, resulting in a higher rate of heat conduction than is desirable. The heater of the present invention is designed to overcome these defects by providing a plurality of independently mounted heating elements, some or all of which are adapted to be urged inwardly by spring action, so that regardless of the thickness of the coil, within reasonable limits, and whether or not it is of uniform thickness throughout its length, it may be easily inserted in the heater, and will be subjected to the proper pressure to insure the desired rate of heat exchange. 20

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the heater may be provided with a handle l0, preferably of material which is a good insulator with respect to both heat and electricity. The handle [0 may be molded or otherwise fabricated, 2 provision being made, as by the binding posts H, II, for connecting the electrical supply conductors l2, l2 with the internal circuit. Fixed within the handle ID by any suitable means, and depending therefrom, is the tube l3, of aluminum or other light metal of good heat conducting properties. The portion of the tube l3 which is within the handle l0, and a greater or lesser portion at its lower end, are cylindrical in form, and unbroken. Throughout the intervening extent, the tube I3 is provided with elongated apertures, in which are mounted the heating elements M. The apertures of the tube l3 are preferably framed by the flanges l5, which also serve to provide stops to limit the inward movement of the heating elements l4. Although in the present embodiment three heating elements are provided, any number will sufiice, so long as they are arranged for substantially uniform heating elfect and proper radial pressure.

The heating elements M are formed with inner surfaces of arcuate cross-section, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to form, when pressed outwardly into the plane of the tube [3, a substantially cylindrical space for the reception of the coil to be waved. The heating elements M are preferably provided with the projecting flanges l6, which, in the innermost position of the heating elements, abut the flanges [5 of the tube l3, preventing further inward movement of the heating iii elements. The heating elements l4 are connected in series, and are supplied with electrical energy from the conductors l2, l2 through the conductors l1, I1, which connect with the conductors l2, l2, and conductors |8, |8 which connect the several heating elements in series. The heating elements M are loosely mounted in their respective apertures, and have no positive connection with the remaining portions of the heater except through the conductors I1, IT. They are thus free to move radially within their respective apertures, and need not move uniformly throughout their length. That is, one end of a given heating element may be urged inwardly while the other end is pressed outwardly by an enlarged portion of the coil.

The inward pressure of the heating elements I4 is supplied by the leaf springs I9, which may be mounted on the outer surfaces of the respective heating elements in any suitable manner, as by frictional engagement with the clamping members 20 which, in the present embodiment, are formed by turning over portions of the shell of the heating elements l4. The springs l9 engage the cover member 2|, which is in the form of a cylinder surrounding the entire structure except the handle I and the lower end of the tube l3. The cover 2| may be either permanently or removably engaged with the handle l0, and may be provided with the apertures 22, for ventilation, if desired. The lower end of the cover 2| is curved inwardly so that the opening therein is just suflicient to accommodate the tube l3, thus aiding in confining the heat within the device.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that when the heater is not in use the springs l9 will urge the heating elements I4 inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3. However, when a coil is inserted in the heater, through the lower end of tube i3, the heating elements will be forced outwardly, against the pressure of springs l9, sufliciently to accommodate the coil. It is also apparent that this arrangement will result in the heating elements being urged against the coil sufficiently to promote satisfactory heating thereof, without danger of underheating or overheating the hair regardless of thethickness, within limits, of the coil, and whether or not it is of uniform thickness throughout its length.

It is obvious that one or more of the heating elements i4 might be rigidly mounted in position, and the remaining heating elements yieldably mounted, thus securing to a corresponding extent the advantages of the present invention.

In the alternative construction illustrated in Figs. 4, and 6, only two heating elements, 25 and 26, are employed. The heating element 25 is secured to a handle 21 and cover 28, as shown, while the heating element 26 is supported within the cover 28 only by its pivotal connection to a lever 29, which is itself pivoted upon a pin 39 which extends through the handle 21 and cover 28. A curved leaf spring 3| is also pivoted, at its upper end, upon the pin 30 and extends downwardly within the groove formed between flanges 32 formed upon the lever 29. The curved lower end of the spring 3| projects through an aperture adjacent the lower end of lever 29, and engages the cover 28 as at 33.

It will be readily understood that by virtue of the construction described, the bearing element 26 will at all times be urged toward heating element 25 by the spring 3|. However, if one grasps the finger grips 34 and 35, secured to the handle 21 and lever 29, respectively, and

applies compressive force, the lever 29 will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, moving the heating element 26 to the right against the pressure of spring 3|.

The terms employed in the foregoing specification are terms of description and not of limitation, and I do not desire to be limited to the particular constructions disclosed, since various modifications of the same may be made within the scope of the present invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a heater for permanent wave machines, a plurality of heating elements, each element having an inner face of arcuate cross-section, said elements being adapted to receive therebetween the coil to be heated, a casing surrounding said heating elements open only at the ends thereof for insertion and removal of a coil of hair, and resilient means for causing and maintaining contact between each of said heating elements and said coil.

2. In a heater for permanent wave machines, a plurality of independently mounted heating elements each element having an inner face'of arcuate cross section, a casing surrounding said heating elements open only at the ends thereof for insertion and removal of a coil of hair, and resilient means for urging said elements toward each other.

3. In a heater for permanent wave machines, a plurality of heating elements each element having an inner face of arcuate cross section, said elements defining a central opening for receiving the coil to be heated, a casing surrounding said heating elements open only at the ends thereof for insertion and removal of a coil of hair, and independent means for bringing each of said heating elements into contact with said coil to clamp said coil therebetween.

4. In a heater for permanent wave machines, a plurality of heating elements defining a central opening therebetween, each of said heating elements having an inner surface of substantially arcuate cross-section, a casing surrounding said heating elements open only at the ends thereof for insertion and removal of a coil of hair, and means for urging each of said heating elements inwardly simultaneously to diminish said central opening.

5. In a heater for permanent wave machines, a plurality of heating elements defining a central opening therebetween, each of said heating elements having an inner surface of substantially arcuate cross section, a casing surrounding said heating elements open only at the ends thereof for insertion and removal of a coil of hair, and separate resilient means for urging each said heating element radially inward.

6. In a heater for permanent wave machines, a plurality of independently mounted heating elements defining a substantially cylindrical central opening for receiving a coil to be heated, and resilient means urging said heating elements inwardly toward said opening, said means being so constructed and arranged as to cause said heating elements to assume and maintain non-parallel positions in accordance with the taper of said coil.

7. In a heater for permanent wave machines, a plurality of heating elements arranged to receive a coil of hair therebetween, means supporting said elements for independent rocking and rectilinear movement toward or away from said coil, and a casing surrounding said heating elements and means, said casing being open only at the ends thereof for insertion and removal of a coil of hair.

8. In a heater for permanent wave machines, a plurality of heating elements defining a central opening therebetween, said heating elements being independently mounted for rocking and rectilinear movement to enlarge or diminish said central opening, and a casing surrounding said heating elements open only at the ends thereof for insertion and removal of a coil of hair.

9. In a heater for permanent wave machines, a plurality of heating elements defining a central opening therebetween, a casing surrounding said heating elements open only at the ends thereof for insertion and removal of a coil of hair, and resilient means for causing rocking and rectilinear movements of certain of said heating elements to enlarge or diminish said central opening.

10. In a heater for permanent wave machines, a plurality of heating elements, means for supporting said elements to define a substantially cylindrical central opening therebetween, at least one of said heating elements being independently and resiliently mounted for rocking and rectilinear movements to enlarge or diminish said opening, and the remaining element or elements being fixedly mounted.

11. In a heater for permanent wave machines, the combination of a cylindrical tube having apertures extending longitudinally thereof, heating elements mounted in the apertures in said tube for movement substantially radially thereof and arranged to cooperate with said tube and define a central opening for the reception of a coil of hair, and a cover member surrounding said tube and said heating elements.

12. In a heater for permanent wave machines, an apertured cylindrical tube, a handle encircling a portion of said tube, heating elements mounted in the apertures in said tube, a cover member surrounding the portion of said tube including said heating elements, and resilient means between said cover and said heating elements for urging said heating elements inwardly.

ERNEST O. FREDERICS. 

